5 Written Questions

1. the right of the president to keep executive branch conversations and correspondence confidential from the legislative and judicial branches
2. a document issued by the president when signing a bill into law explaining his interpretation of the Law, which often differs from from the interpretation of Congress, in an attempt to influence how the law will be implemented
3. any policy decision made and acted upon by the president and his staff without the explicit approval or consent of congress
4. when a person is chosen by the president to fill a position, such as an ambassadorship or the head of a department, while the Senate is snot in session, thereby bypassing Senate approval. Unless approved by a subsequent Senate vote, recess appointees serve only to the end of the congressional term
5. Article II, Section 1, of the Constitution, which states that "executive Power shall be vested in a President of the USA," making the president both head of the government and head of state

5 Matching Questions

1. go public
2. executive agreement
3. constitutional authority (presidential)
4. State of the Union
5. What does the executive branch do? How is it organized?

1. a a president's use of speeches and other public communications to appeal directly to citizens about issues the president would like the House and Senate to act on
2. b powers derived from the provisions of the Constitution that outline the president's role in government
3. c an agreement between the executive branch and a foreign government which acts as a treaty but does not require Senate approval.
4. d An annual speech in which the president address Congress to report on the condition of the country and recommend policies
5. e Political appointees in the Executive Office of the President, along with the VP and appointees in executive departments and agencies, help the president manage the federal government and provide political assistance to the president and to candidates from his political party. The primary mission of presidential appointees is to help the president achieve his or her policy goals. As such, loyalty to the president is generally valued over policy expertise. VP Dick Cheney was the most powerful VP in American history owing to his experience, expertise, and general agreement with Pres Bush

5 Multiple Choice Questions

1. an expedited system for passing treaties under which support from a simple majority, rather than a two-thirds majority, is needed in both the House and Senate, and no amendments are allowed.
   1. vesting clause
   2. State of the Union
   3. fast-track authority
   4. first-mover advantage
2. The president's duties include overseeing the implementation of legislation; appointing senior government officials and federal judges; issuing executive orders; serving as military commander in chief; directing America's foreign policy; proposing, signing and vetoing legislation; and carrying out other duties. The president is a politician who needs to cultivate citizens' support to get reelected, to pressure Congress to enact his proposals, and to help elect candidates from his party. Even after 220 years of American history, the limits of presidential power in such areas as national security and executive privilege remain unclear
   1. two presidencies
   2. presidential approval
   3. What is the president's job description?
   4. State of the Union
3. powers derived from laws enacted by Congress that add to the powers given to the president in the Constitution.
   1. constitutional authority (presidential)
   2. statutory authority (presidential)
   3. two presidencies
   4. unilateral action (presidential)
4. Most Americans want the president to have good judgment and to be ethical and compassionate. Somewhat fewer Americans want a president who is politically experienced and willing to compromise. Issues such as the economy and health care are perennially important in presidential elections. In recent elections, national security issues such as preventing terrorist attacks and managing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have also come to the fore. Presidential approval ratings are driven by a president's performance on the major issues facing the country, such as the economy and national security.
   1. Who are America's presidents? What effect have presidential actions had, and how has the presidency developed over time?
   2. What do Americans want from the president? What determines whether presidential approval ratings are high or low?
   3. What does the executive branch do? How is it organized?
   4. What is the president's job description?
5. Ambiguities in the Constitution and in statutory authority allow the president to act unilaterally- that is, to change politices without congressional approval. All recent presidents have taken unilateral actions especially on foreign policy and at the end of their terms. Congress can try to undo unilateral presidential actions by passing legislation with a veto-proof, two-thirds majority. Even then, reversing the president's action may require a court challenge if the president claims he is using constitutional authority. Congress also has te power to remove the president from office through the impeachment procedure. Impeachment is a cumbersome and politically risky strategy, however, and it has never been successfully used to remove a president.
   1. Who are America's presidents? What effect have presidential actions had, and how has the presidency developed over time?
   2. What is the president's job description?
   3. What does the executive branch do? How is it organized?
   4. How much power do presidents really have, and under what circumstances do they exercise it?

5 True/False Questions

1. unitary executive theory → proclamations made by the president that change government policy without congressional approval

   True        False

2. Executive Office of the President (EOP) → an agreement between the executive branch and a foreign government which acts as a treaty but does not require Senate approval.

   True        False

3. head of government → one role of the president, through which he or she represents the country symbolically and politically

   True        False

4. presidential approval → The idea that presidents have more interest in and power over foreign policy issues compared to domestic policy issues. This asymmetry is created by the president's greater influence over the making of foreign policy and the generally lower salience of foreign policy issues

   True        False

5. first-mover advantage → an expedited system for passing treaties under which support from a simple majority, rather than a two-thirds majority, is needed in both the House and Senate, and no amendments are allowed.

   True        False